Ofauk for sprinkler systems



E; C. MAXWELL. TANK FOR SPR|NKLER SYSTEMS. mwucmou man JULY 2.1916.

1 315522. Pat-enoedsept. 9,1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARL C. MAXWELL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TAN K FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 12, 1916. Serial No. 108,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL G. MAXWELL, a citizen of United States,residing at Brooklyn, New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tanks for Sprinkler Systems, of which the following 1s aspecification.

This invention relates to the structure and arrangement of tanks, etc,roof of the building, from which a fire protective sprinkler systemwithin the building is supplied.

In many locations the fire underwriters require two independent sourcesof supply and for this and other reasons it is now customary in. systemsof this character to emplo two tanks on theroof. One of these tan (S,known as the gravity tank, supplies water under pressure of gravity. Theother tank, known as the pressuretank, has a liquid with air confinedabove it. This air is compressed and exerts a corresponding pressureupon the liquid tending to expel it.

It has been customary to mount the gravity tank ten or fifteen feetabove the roof upon a structural steel frame-work, while the pressuretankhas been ordinarily mounted close to the roof in ahousing orbulkhead; t l

The pipes leading from the gravity tank have been protected fromfreezing by means of suitable insulation such as is provided by boxingthem in. The housing or bulk-head inclosing the pressure tank, piping,valves,

etc, has been suitably heated to prevent freezing. l

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure by whichthe supporting frame work for the gravity tank may be dispensed with anda simpler, stronger and more shapely appearingstructure provided.

A further object of the invention is to struction the upperportionbeing'shown in elevation, and Fig. 3 1s a simllar vlew of afurther modiusually on the in the gravity tank to sprinkler fication,the upper portion here also being 7 shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, the pressure tank hasits axis vertical with the side walls formed by the cylinder 1 and theconvex end heads 2 and The gravity tank has the side walls 4: and cover5 and is supported by the pressure tank, the upper end 2 of the pressuretank being exposed to the liquid of the gravity tank and'forming aclosure for that tank at its bottom. In this case, however, the end ofthe pressure tank does not form the entire bottom of the gravity tank,this bottom hav mg the overhanging portion 6 outside the pressure tankand secured thereto. It will of course be understood that suitable ventsw1ll be made 111 the roof 5 or otherwise, so

that air may have access to permit the fluid be discharged under thepressure of gravity.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

The tanksmay be made of. various materials but preferably the pressuretank is constructed of boiler steel riveted together as.

shownqand the gravitytank of wood. The

lower end of the pressure tank rests on brackets 7 which are supportedon I beams 8 resting upon the building frame or walls. The housing 9 isplaced about the pressure tank,

the overhanging bottom 6 of the gravity tank forming the roof of thespace inclosed by the housing, A suitable heater such as a coiled steampipe may be arranged in the housing to prevent the temperature about thepressure. tank from becoming too low. This steam coil may be connectedwiththe steam heating plant of the building so that the heating in'thetank housing is necessarily of the proper temperature when the buildingis uitably heated for occupancy by the tenants. The gravity tank mayalso contain a steam heating coil. Within the housing of the pressuretank a pipe 10 leads from the gravity tank to. a pipe union 11 fromwhichconnection is made through the valve 19 and a check valve 12 itytank. A pipe 14: having a valve 15, connects with the union 11 andprovides a drain Upon opening the p for the gravity tank.

with the pipe 13leading to the system inside the building. The checkprevents backward flow into the gravvalve 15, water may be. drained fromthe gravity tank. When the the gravity tank is placed in communicationwith the pipe 13 leading to the sprinkler system. The valve 17 controlsconnection of valve 12 is opened p the end heads 26 and27 of thepressure tank."

"from the tanks.

ing to the sprinkler system are within the heated inclos-ure so as to beprotected from injury or stoppage by freezing.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the gravity tank 20 and pressure tank 21 are ofthe same diameter, the upper end 22 of the pressure tank forming theentire bottom of the gravit tank.

In this case of course there is no over-' hangingof the bottom of thegravity tank so that the roof 23 ofthe inclosing housing for thepressure tank is structurally separate In this structure the pipe10"leading to the gravity tank'20, communicates with the drain pipe 1 1and also with the pipe 13" leadingto the sprinklers, the

arrangement of the pipes and valves being similar to that shown inFig. 1. Also the pipe 19 leading to the pressure tank 21 may, by meansof an arrangement of valves similar to that described in connection withthe pipes of 1, be connected'with the drain" pipe 16" orthe sprinklerfeed pipe 13.

The arrangement of apparatusin Fig. 2 1s similar to that in Fig. 1except that the gravity and pressure tanks are of substantially the samediameter, the gravitytank having nooverhanging in the case of Fig. 2.1

Referring'now to Fig.3, the gravity tank 24 isof the'same'diameter asthe'pressure' tank 25. The pressure tank,'however'is of a differentstructure. It is mounted with'its major axis vertical and has convexheads 26 and 27 and a cylindrical body'2S similar to the pressure tanksof the'preceding figures. It differs, however, in that it has a centralaxial passage or chamber inclosed by the tube 29. This tube ispreferably circular and flanged. at one end where it is riveted totheend hea d'27. The other end of 'the' tube extends to the roof making achamber closed from the weather. within the pressure tank and at thecenter thereof. This leaves the space for the fluid within the pressuretank annular, surrounding the tube 29. The central tube 29 forms a fluidtight j ointwith Extending laterally'from the tube 29is a tube 30 makingfluid tight joints withthe tube 29, and wall28. The end of the tube 30is closed by a heat insulating door or cover 31'. Upon the removal ofthis door access may be had to the various valves, gages, etc.,

with which it is desirable to equip tanks and which must be protectedfrom freezing. It

I freezing thus there is running through the tube 29 a pipe 33communicating with the gravity tank and with the sprinkler supply pipe34. Communication through the pipe 33 is controlled by the valve 35, theoperating stem36 of which is accessible through the tube 30, and a checkvalve 30 preventing back flow into the gravity tank. The pipe 37communicates with the pressure tank and also with the pipe 3st throughthe valve 38. The stem 39 of the valve 38 is controlled by means of ahand wheel d0 accessible through the tube 30 and rotating the stem 39 bymeans of beveled gears 11; also the gage glass $2 for the pressure tankmay be spaced within the range of vision through the tube 30. The drainpipe 43 connects through a valve 44 with the pipe 33. This may be cutoff when desired and the tanks placed in connection with the sprinklersupply pipe; also the heated chamber within the pressure tank serves toprevent it from freezing. T he necessity for a housing is therefore doneaway with.

Also, if desired, the gravity tank may be provided with a central tube4L5 which may receive heated air as by being placed in communicationwith the heated tube 29 of the pressure tank, the tube45 being rivetedat one end to the bottom of the gravity tank and having its other end 46closed.

While the invention has been illustrated in what are considered its bestapplications it may have other embodiments without departingv from itsspirit and is not therefore limited to the structures shown in thedrawings.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a pressure tank of a gravity tank supported bysaid pressure tank andhaving its bottom closed by a wall of saidpressure tank, and a fire extinguisher system connected with said tanks.

2. The combination witha pressure tank of a gravity tank having one ofits walls closed by a wall of said pressure tank, and a fireextinguisher system connected with said tanks.

3. The combination with a cylindrival pressure tank having convex endsand with itsaxis vertical, of a gravity tank supported by said pressuretank, the upper end of said pressure tank forming a closure for thebottom of said gravity tank, and a fire extinguisher system connectedwith said tanks.

4. The combination with a pressure tank having a chamber thereinextending from one wall to another and surrounded by the liquid chamber,of heating means located in the first mentioned chamber, a fireextinguisher system and means connecting said system with said liquidchamber.

5. The combination with a pressure tank having a cylindrical body withits axis vertical and convex end heads, and a central vertical passageextending from one end head to the other of a fire extinguisher systeamconnected with said tank.

6. A pressure tank having a heating chamher, and a liquid chamber, saidchambers being closed against each other and said heating chamber beingclosed at its upper end, and a fire extinguisher system connected withsaid liquid chamber.

7 The combination with a pressure, tank of a gravity tank supported bysaid pressure tank and having its bottom closed by a Wall of saidpressure tank; a fire extinguisher system; a pipe leading from saidgravity tank to said system; a pipe leading from said pressure tank tosaid system;

Copies of this patent may he obtained tor the cents each, by addressingthe valves in said pipes controlling the communication from said tanksto said fire extinguisher system respectively, and of the tanks witheach other, whereby either of said tanks may be singly connected withsaid system.

8. The combination with a cylindrical pressure tank having convex endsand with its axis vertical, of a gravity tank supported by said pressuretank, the upper end of said pressure tank forming a closure for thebottom of said gravity tank; a fire extinguisher system; a pipe leadingfrom said gravity tank to said system; a pipe leading from said pressuretank to said system; valves in said pipes controlling the communicationfrom said tanks to said fire extinguisher system respectively, and ofthe tanks with each other, whereby either of said tanks may be singlyconnected with said system.

In testlmony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this6th day of July, 1916.

EARL C. MAXWELL.

"Commissioner of l'atentl.

Wellington, D. 0."

